Making My Way: The First Six Months

Six months ago, when I was
getting ready to give birth to my son, Malcolm (Mac), I wasn't sure
if I should breastfeed. My mother was a fine example of loving parenting,
but not a breastfeeding role model because I was adopted when I was
five weeks old. I didn't have any friends or relatives who had breastfed
for any length of time and, honestly, didn't know much about it. However,
the idea of enhancing the mother-baby bond through breastfeeding appealed
to me and I could not ignore the evidence that human milk is the best
food for babies. In addition, I have a supportive husband who encouraged
me to try it and a supportive doctor who emphasized the positive health
aspects of breastfeeding for the baby and mother.

Soon after Mac was born,
I put him to my breast for the first time. The rush of love I had for
him was like no other. I was very fortunate that he seemed to know exactly
what to do. "He's an old pro," the lactation consultant said,
smiling, when she saw him breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding has been very
rewarding for me and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is having
a baby. There is nothing like feeding a baby at your breast. In addition
to the obvious benefits it has given Mac, I also feel more vital than
ever. I am at my pre-pregnancy weight, I eat with a healthy appetite,
and the fact that my baby is getting his nutrition from me helps me
to stay focused on eating healthy foods, drinking enough water, and
exercising (we go for daily walks).

I never wanted to quit breastfeeding, but there were definitely times
within the first four months when I felt frustrated and exhausted. Mac
seemed to eat constantly for the first two months, so I wondered if
I was providing him with enough milk. My pediatrician assured me that
with his healthy weight gain, he was coming along just fine. He was
just one of those babies who needed to breastfeed very frequently. I
had to learn to be patient and think about the fact that this would
not go on forever, as well as realize that I would look back and miss
these times once they had ended.

I was surprised that Mac
had trouble falling asleep without breastfeeding. If he were not in
a deep enough sleep, he would bolt awake and start crying the moment
I got up from my chair. I tried to alleviate this by nursing him before
bed and letting him fall into a deep sleep where he fell off my breast
naturally. Usually, I was able to put him to bed at that point, but
sometimes I would have to start all over again. He began to go to sleep
without breastfeeding at about six months of age.

The only other issue I had was with breastfeeding in public. I had never
been in the company of women who breastfed out in the open. I purchased
a few shirts with breastfeeding openings and became familiar with latching
Mac on discreetly. I first fed him in front of people I felt comfortable
with: my husband, parents, and close female friends. From there, I went
on to all of our friends and family and finally, when the need came
up, I breastfed in restaurants, at parties, or wherever I happened to
be. I found that if I seemed relaxed about it, it put others at ease.

I hope that my friends and
family members will come to me if they ever decide to breastfeed and
need a supportive ear. I would like to be seen as a healthy example
of someone who is at ease with breastfeeding. I would love to be a guide
for someone who is not sure if this is the right decision. I will be
happy if even one woman sees me feeding Mac in a restaurant and thinks
to herself, "I would like to do that, too."